Apparatus and Method for Providing Ultrapure Water

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for providing ultrapure water, in particular ultrapure water for use in semiconductor fabrication.

This apparatus comprises at least one cylindrical reactor with an inner cylindrical shell, an outer cylindrical shell and a channel-like volume between inner shell and outer shell.

According to the invention said inner cylindrical shell houses at least one UV emission device, said outer cylindrical shell comprises at least one means for reflecting UV radiation, and said channel-like volume is provided for flowing water through the reactor.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said inner cylindrical shell (3) is made from synthetic crystalline Si0.sub.2, preferably with a maximum UV transmission rate.

3. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said UV emission device (6) has an emission spectrum with wave lengths ≤380 nm, preferably with emission peaks ≤200 nm, in particular with emission peaks of 185 nm and 254 nm.

4. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said outer cylindrical shell (4) is made from Si0.sub.2, preferably with an UV transmission rate lower than that of synthetic crystalline Si0.sub.2.

5. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said means for reflecting UV radiation is at least one coating (7), preferably made from amorphous Si0.sub.2.

6. (canceled)

7. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said channel-like volume (5) has a width between 0.1 mm and 100 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 50 mm, in particular between 2 mm and 15 mm.

8. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said channel-like volume is made up from at least two chamber-like sections which are arranged in series.

9. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said channel-like volume (5) comprises means (14) for generating a turbulent flow of flowing water in said volume, wherein preferably said means are spiral components, in particular spiral components made from Si0.sub.2.

10. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said cylindrical reactor (2) further comprises a cylindrical shield (10) enclosing said outer cylindrical shell (4), wherein preferably said shield is made from plastic or has a surface made from plastic.

11-14. (canceled)

15. Method for semiconductor fabrication including providing ultrapure water for such fabrication, wherein water is flowed through the channel-like volume (5) provided between the inner cylindrical shell (3) and the outer cylindrical shell (4) of the cylindrical reactor (2) and through the outer volume in an apparatus (1) according to claim 17.

16. (canceled)

17. An apparatus for providing ultrapure water for use in semiconductor fabrication, comprising: a cylindrical reactor (2) with an inner cylindrical shell (3), an outer cylindrical shell (4) arranged concentrically around the inner cylindrical shell and an annular channel-like volume (5) formed between the inner shell and the outer shell for flow of water through the annular channel-like volume (5), an outer cylindrical vessel (11) concentrically positioned around the outer shell (4) to define an outer volume for flow of water through the outer volume, a flow path from a downstream end of the annular channel-like volume (5) into the outer volume (12) so that water flowing through and exiting the channel-like volume then enters and flows through the outer volume, a UV emission device within said inner shell (3), for UV transmission through water flowing through the channel-like volume (5) to oxidize organic molecules in the water, the outer volume containing at least one of: an adsorbing material comprising an ion exchange resin capable of removing oxidized organic materials from the UV-treated water; and a catalyst capable of removing hydrogen peroxide from the UV-treated water, the inner cylindrical shell (3), the outer cylindrical shell (4) and the channel-like volume being without metals so that water flowing through the channel-like volume does not make contact with any metal, and the cylindrical reactor with the inner and outer cylindrical shells and the channel-like volume, as well as the outer cylindrical vessel and the outer volume, being contained in said apparatus as a sole unitary device, whereby ultrapure water is provided by flowing water through the channel-like volume for UV treatment and oxidization of organic materials, and the UV-treated water then flows through the outer volume where hydrogen peroxide and/or oxidized organic materials are removed, all within a single unitary device.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the outer cylindrical shell comprises a means for reflecting UV radiation.

19. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the outer volume contains both said ion exchange resin and said catalyst.

20. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the outer volume contains said catalyst, which comprises palladium or platinum.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the outer volume is without metals other than said palladium or platinum, so that water flowing through the apparatus does not make contact with any metal except said palladium or platinum.

Description

[0050] In the drawings show

[0051] FIG. 1 a schematic sectional view of an apparatus according to the invention,

[0052] FIGS. 2A and 2B schematic sectional views of essential parts of the inventive apparatus according to FIG. 1,

[0053] FIG. 3 further schematic detail views of the inventive apparatus according to FIG. 1,

[0054] FIG. 4 schematic detail views of another apparatus according to the invention with spiral components, and

[0055] FIG. 5 a schematic isometric view of an apparatus according to the invention with spiral components.

[0056] Apparatus 1 according to FIG. 1 comprises one elongated cylindrical reactor 2 of tubular shape. This cylindrical reactor 2 has an inner shell 3, an outer shell 4 and a channel 5 (channel-like volume) between inner shell 3 and outer shell 4. In other words: cylindrical shell 3 is arranged concentrically in cylindrical outer shell 4.

[0057] As also shown in FIG. 1 inner cylindrical shell 3 houses a UV emission device 6, e.g. a mercury low pressure UV lamp.

[0058] On the outer surface of the outer cylindrical shell 4 there is a coating 7 as a reflecting means for

[0059] UV radiation. This is not shown in FIG. 1 in detail, but the corresponding coating is explicitly shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

[0060] The water treated in the inventive apparatus 1 flows through channel 5 from the bottom to the top of apparatus 1. This is illustrated by the left arrow at the very bottom of FIG. 1.

[0061] FIG. 1 further shows [0062] support rod 8 which increases mechanical stability of cylindrical reactor 2 between inner shell 3 and outer shell 4, [0063] cable 9 for power supply of UV emission device 6, [0064] elongated cylindrical shield 10 enclosing outer shell 4, [0065] cylindrical vessel 11 housing cylindrical reactor 2, and defining a volume 12 between shield 10 and vessel 11, and [0066] absorbing material 13, e.g. ion exchange resins and/or catalysts immobilized on a support for further treating steps of the water flowing through the reactor.

[0067] According to preferred embodiments of the invention, in the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 inner shell 3 is made from synthetic ultrapure crystalline quartz and outer shell 4 is made from crystalline standard quartz. The UV reflective coating 7 on the outer surface of shell 4 is also made from amorphous Silica.

[0068] FIG. 2A includes a larger view from the top part of apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1), and FIG. 2B includes a larger view of the bottom part of apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1).

[0069] Also, according to FIG. 2A cylindrical reactor 2 comprises inner cylindrical shell 3 (housing UV emission device 6), outer cylindrical shell 4 (comprising an UV reflecting coating 7 at its outer surface), and channel 5 between inner shell 3 and outer shell 4.

[0070] Further, FIG. 2A shows power supply cable 9 for UV emission device 6. Also illustrated are cylindrical shield 10 and vessel 11, defining volume 12 between them.

[0071] By the arrows in FIG. 2A it is also shown that the water treated in apparatus 1 flows in channel 5 from the bottom to the top, and is then redirected to flow from the top to the bottom through volume 12.

[0072] Also, in FIG. 2B the same components of apparatus 1 are illustrated as in FIG. 2A. Therefore, cylindrical reactor 2 comprises inner cylindrical shell 3, outer cylindrical shell 4 and channel 5 (channel-like volume) between inner shell 3 and outer shell 4. UV emission device/lamp 6 is arranged within inner shell 3. Coating 7 is provided at the outer surface of outer shell 4 as an UV reflective means. Further, support rod 8 between inner shell 3 and outer shell 4 is shown in FIG. 2B.

[0073] Outer shell 4 is shielded by cylinder 10. Vessel 11 houses cylindrical reactor 2 with volume 12 between cylindrical shield 10 and vessel 11.

[0074] The water to be further purified in apparatus 1 flows into the apparatus from the bottom (see “inlet”), and then flows through channel 5 to the top of apparatus 1 (see illustration in FIG. 2A). Redirected water flow is channeled through volume 12 for further treatment, and exits apparatus 1 at its bottom (see “outlet” in FIG. 2B).

[0075] FIG. 3 shows two other detail views of apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1), namely the bottom part of cylindrical reactor 2 in apparatus 1.

[0076] In this context, on the left FIG. 3 illustrates in a sectional view inner cylindrical shell 3 and outer cylindrical shell 4 with support rod 8 between inner shell 3 and outer shell 4. Further, inner shell 3 and outer shell 4 define channel-like volume/channel 5 between them. The water to be treated will flow into cylindrical reactor 2 from the bottom and then into channel 5 up to the top of cylindrical reactor 2 (not shown in FIG. 3).

[0077] The detail view on the right side of FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the left illustration of FIG. 3 at the position of support rod 8. Besides inner shell 3, outer shell 4 and channel 5, this sectional view also shows that there are three support rods 8 at a radial distance of 120°.

[0078] UV reflective coating 7, which is illustrated at the outer surface of outer shell 4 in the left illustration of FIG. 3 is not shown in the right illustration of FIG. 3.

[0079] FIG. 4 shows detail views of another cylindrical reactor 2 in an inventive apparatus, which differs from the cylindrical reactor 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 by the presence of a static means for generating a turbulent flow in the form of spiral components.

[0080] In this context, FIG. 4 in its left illustration shows cylindrical reactor 2, inner cylindrical shell 3, outer cylindrical shell 4 and channel 5 between these two shells 3, 4. Further, this illustration also shows an UV reflective coating 7 on the outer surface of outer shell 4.

[0081] According to the left illustration of FIG. 4, in this embodiment of the cylindrical reactor 2 spiral components 14 are provided within channel 5. This/These spiral component(s) 14 wind(s) up, preferably in a number of consecutive spiral segments, from the bottom of the cylindrical reactor up to the top of the cylindrical reactor.

[0082] As explained earlier spiral component(s) 14 has/have the function of a static mixer and turbulence promoter to get better homogeneity of the OH radicals produced by UV light in their interaction with the organic molecules which have to be oxidized.

[0083] In the other illustration of FIG. 4 on its right side, a sectional view at the position of the turning point of component 14 (left illustration in FIG. 1) is shown. This sectional view shows inner shell 3, outer shell 4, and spiral component 14 within channel 5.

[0084] For an even better understanding of an apparatus and cylindrical reactor including spiral components FIG. 5 shows such a cylindrical reactor 2 in an isometric view. This isometric view illustrates inner cylindrical shell 3, outer cylindrical shell 4, and channel 5 between these two shells 3, 4. Further, FIG. 5 illustrates spiral component(s) 14 winding up in the channel 5 in the form of segments.

EXAMPLE

[0085] An apparatus/device as shown in FIG. 1 with reference sign 1 has a height/length of 1700 mm and a diameter of 300 mm of its cross sectional area. This apparatus comprises a cylindrical reactor (reference sign 2 in FIG. 1) with a length of 1500 mm. The inner cylindrical shell (reference sign 3 in FIG. 1) of the cylindrical reactor houses a mercury low pressure lamp with an electric power of 300 W. The width of the channel-like volume (reference sign 5 in FIG. 1) in the cylindrical reactor is 11 mm.

[0086] Further, the apparatus used in the example comprises a catalyst resin and an ion exchange resin (in the volume designated with reference sign 12 in FIG. 1) for further treating the water after the UV-treatment step. In the example, the apparatus contains 25 liter of catalyst resin (strong base anion exchange resin with 1 g/L Pd.sup.0 and 50 liter of mixed bed ion exchange resin (UPW grade).

[0087] With the described apparatus two feedwater samples (pretreated through pre-treatement and MakeUp section) are further treated to provide ultrapure water. These (pretreated) ultrapure water samples include ethanol as an organic molecule to be oxidized.

[0088] 1. The first feedwater sample comprises 9.3 ppb TOC and is treated in the apparatus with a capacity of 1 m.sup.3/h at a temperature of 22° C. [0089] After treatment with UV-radiation in the inventive cylindrical reactor the ultrapure water contains 6 ppb TOC and 41 ppm H.sub.2O.sub.2. After further treatment by the catalyst resin and the mixed bed ion exchange resin, i. e. after the final polishing step, the ultrapure water has 0.9 ppb TOC and 3 ppb H.sub.2O.sub.2.

[0090] 2. The second feedwater sample comprises 30.3 ppb TOC and is treated in the apparatus with a capacity of 2 m.sup.3/h at a temperature of 22° C.

[0091] After treatment with UV-radiation in the inventive cylindrical reactor the ultrapure water contains 23.1 ppb TOC and 62.8 ppm H.sub.2O.sub.2. After further treatment by the catalyst resin and the mixed bed ion exchange resin, i. e. after the final polishing step, the ultrapure water has 2.9 ppb TOC and 3.6 ppb H.sub.2O.sub.2.